The sentence should rise to between two and five years if there was an aggravating
factor such as alcohol, drugs, racing, showing off, excessive speed,
disregarding warnings from fellow passengers, falling asleep or being distracted
by a mobile, it added.

If there were three or more aggravating features the sentence should rise to
between five and 10 years.

At present there is no clear starting point for sentencing this offence, said
Professor Wasik.

In the year 2000, about 15% of drivers convicted of causing death by dangerous driving actually escaped jail.

"This offence causes particular difficulty for
sentencers," he said.

"On the one hand, an offence involving a person's death is always serious,
and understandably leads to calls for severe sentences.

"On the other hand, an offender convicted of this offence did not
deliberately cause death or serious injury.

"The standard of the offender's driving at the time of the offence should be
the primary factor in determining the seriousness of an offence."

2000 STATISICS

183 people sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving

158 jailed, which meant 15% escaped jail

Average sentence was 3 years and 1 month

But many jailed for less than a year

Four fined; 13 received community sentences; 8 got suspended sentences

But motoring groups questioned whether mandatory minimum sentences would make any difference.

"The UK legal system relies
on the judiciary, when passing sentence, to take account of all factors relating
to the offence, the consequences and the offender," said the RAC Foundation.

"In most cases of causing death by dangerous driving, this already leads to a
custodial sentence."

The RAC Foundations called instead for a new
offence of causing death by careless driving, which it said should solve any sentencing problems.